Patents by Inventor Heikki Ojamo

Heikki Ojamo has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 7625728
    Abstract: Effective processes are provided for the production of xylitol and ethanol and other products from solutions derived from lignocellulose-containing material in biomass. The solutions can be hydrolyzed or partially hydrolyzed before being fermented with microbes. The fermented solution can be distilled and can be subsequently separated, such as, by chromatographic separation, membrane separation, etc. The recovered xylitol solution can be crystallized to provide pure xylitol crystals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 1, 2009
    Assignee: Danisco Sweeteners Oy
    Inventors: Olli-Pekka Eroma, Heikki Heikkila, Heikki Ojamo, Päivi Sarmala, Göran Hyöky, Leena Rahkila, Marja-Leena Sarkki, Tapio Viljava
  • Patent number: 7482144
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for the production of xylitol, the method comprising (a1) providing (i) a microorganism having xylanolytic activity, and (ii) a microorganism capable of converting a pentose sugar to xylitol; or (a2) providing a microorganism having xylanolytic activity and being capable of converting a pentose sugar to xylitol, (b) culturing the microorganism of step (a1) (i) or the microorganism of step (a2) in a medium comprising polymer or oligomer materials containing pentose sugars in conditions sufficient for enabling hydrolysis of said polymers or oligomers by the microorganism; (c) producing xylitol in the microorganism of step (a1) (ii) or in the microorganism of step (a2) by bioconversion of the hydrolysis products obtained in step (b), and (d) recovering said xylitol produced. The invention also relates to a microorganism, which has xylanolytic activity and has been genetically modified (i) to enhance its xylanolytic activity, and (ii) to reduce its xylitol metabolism.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 2003
    Date of Patent: January 27, 2009
    Assignee: Danisco Sweeteners Oy
    Inventors: Heikki Ojamo, Merja Penttila, Heikki Heikkila, Jaana Uusitalo, Marja Ilmen, Marja-Leena Sarkki, Maija-Leena Vehkomaki
  • Publication number: 20080038779
    Abstract: The invention relates to the methods of manufacturing five-carbon sugars and sugar alcohols as well as other compounds derived from pentose-phosphate pathway from readily available substrates such a hexoses using metabolically engineered microbial hosts.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 22, 2007
    Publication date: February 14, 2008
    Inventors: Andrei Miasnikov, Heikki Ojamo, Mira Povelainen, Hakan Gros, Mervi Toivari, Peter Richard, Laura Ruohonen, Kari Koivuranta, John Londesborough, Aristos Aristidou, Merja Penttila, Claire Plazanet-Menut, Josef Deutscher
  • Patent number: 7226761
    Abstract: The invention relates to the methods of manufacturing five-carbon sugars and sugar alcohols as well as other compounds derived from pentose-phosphate pathway from readily available substrates such a hexoses using metabolically engineered microbial hosts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 2001
    Date of Patent: June 5, 2007
    Assignee: Danisco Sweeteners Oy
    Inventors: Andrei Miasnikov, Heikki Ojamo, Mira Povelainen, Hakan Gros, Mervi Toivari, Peter Richard, Laura Ruohonen, Kari Koivuranta, John Londesborough, Aristos Aristidou, Merja Penttila, Claire Plazanet-Menut, Josef Deutscher
  • Publication number: 20060246563
    Abstract: Effective processes are provided for the production of xylitol and ethanol and other products from solutions derived from lignocellulose-containing material in biomass. The solutions can be hydrolyzed or partially hydrolyzed before being fermented with microbes. The fermented solution can be distilled and can be subsequently separated, such as, by chromatographic separation, membrane separation, etc. The recovered xylitol solution can be crystallized to provide pure xylitol crystals.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 30, 2006
    Publication date: November 2, 2006
    Inventors: Olli-Pekka Eroma, Heikki Heikkila, Heikki Ojamo, Paivi Sarmala, Goran Hyoky, Leena Rahkila, Marja-Leena Sarkki, Tapio Viljava
  • Patent number: 7109005
    Abstract: Effective processes are provided for the production of xylitol and ethanol and other products from solutions derived from lignocellulose-containing material in biomass. The solutions can be hydrolyzed or partially hydrolyzed before being fermented with microbes. The fermented solution can be distilled and can be subsequently separated, such as, by chromatographic separation, membrane separation, etc. The recovered xylitol solution can be crystallized to provide pure xylitol crystals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 2001
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2006
    Assignee: Danisco Sweeteners Oy
    Inventors: Olli-Pekka Eroma, Heikki Heikkila, Heikki Ojamo, Päivi Sarmala, Göran Hyöky, Leena Rahkila, Marja-Leena Sarkki, Tapio Viljava
  • Patent number: 6911565
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for the production of xylitol. The process utilises ribulose for the preparation of xylitol and involves several different conversion reactions, such as reduction, epimerisation and/or isomerisation. The present invention also relates to the use of ribulose for the preparation of xylitol.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2002
    Date of Patent: June 28, 2005
    Assignee: Danico Sweetners Oy
    Inventors: Heikki Heikkilä, Heikki Ojamo, Andrei Miasnikov, Vili Ravanko, Matti Tylli
  • Patent number: 6894199
    Abstract: The present invention relates to the production of xylitol. In particular, processes utilising L-xylose as an intermediate for xylitol production are described. The present invention also relates to process for the preparation or L-xylose, as an intermediate, by-product or end-product to be used per se.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 2002
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2005
    Assignee: Danisco Sweeteners Oy
    Inventors: Heikki Heikkilä , Heikki Ojamo, Matti Tylli, Vili Ravanko, Juha Nurmi, Piia Haimi, Raimo Alen, Hannu Koivikko
  • Publication number: 20040014185
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for the production of xylitol, the method comprising
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 13, 2003
    Publication date: January 22, 2004
    Applicant: Danisco Sweeteners Oy
    Inventors: Heikki Ojamo, Merja Penttila, Heikki Heikkila, Jaana Uusitalo, Marja Ilmen, Marja-Leena Sarkki, Maija-Leena Vehkomaki
  • Patent number: 6602691
    Abstract: The invention relates to the production of mannitol by bioconversion with the aid of immobilized micro-organisms as well as to the use of the mannitol and by-products formed in the conversion process. In said process a solution containing a substrate convertible into mannitol is fed into contact with solid carrier particles containing viable mannitol-forming microorganism cells immobilized in and/or on said particles. The solution is reconditioned between successive conversion steps in order to provide conversion of a major portion of said substrate into mannitol.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 9, 2001
    Date of Patent: August 5, 2003
    Assignee: Xyrofin Oy
    Inventors: Heikki Ojamo, Hannu Koivikko, Heikki Heikkilä
  • Publication number: 20030125588
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for the production of xylitol. The process utilises ribulose for the preparation of xylitol and involves several different conversion reactions, such as reduction, epimerisation and/or isomerisation. The present invention also relates to the use of ribulose for the preparation of xylitol.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 26, 2002
    Publication date: July 3, 2003
    Applicant: Danisco Sweeteners Oy
    Inventors: Heikki Heikkila, Heikki Ojamo, Andrei Miasnikov, Vili Ravanko, Matti Tylli
  • Patent number: 6582944
    Abstract: This invention relates to recombinant-DNA-technology. Specifically this invention relates to new recombinant yeast strains transformed with xylose reductase and/or xylitol dehydrogenase enzyme genes. A yeast strain transformed with the xylose reductase gene is capable of reducing xylose to xylitol and consequently of producing xylitol in vivo. If both of these genes are transformed into a yeast strain, the resultant strain is capable of producing ethanol on xylose containing medium during fermentation. Further, the said new yeast strains are capable of expressing the said two enzymes. Xylose reductase produced by these strains can be used in an enzymatic process for the production of xylitol in vitro.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 8, 1999
    Date of Patent: June 24, 2003
    Assignee: Xyrofin Oy
    Inventors: Johan Hallborn, Merja Penttilä, Heikki Ojamo, Mats Walfridsson, Ulla Airaksinen, Sirkka Keränen, Bärbel Hahn-Hägerdal
  • Publication number: 20030097029
    Abstract: The present invention relates to the production of xylitol. In particular, processes utilising L-xylose as an intermediate for xylitol production are described. The present invention also relates to process for the preparation or L-xylose, as an intermediate, by-product or end-product to be used per se.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 29, 2002
    Publication date: May 22, 2003
    Inventors: Heikki Heikkila, Heikki Ojamo, Matti Tylli, Vili Ravanko, Juha Nurmi, Piia Haimi, Raimo Alen, Hannu Koivikko
  • Publication number: 20030068791
    Abstract: The invention relates to the methods of manufacturing five-carbon sugars and sugar alcohols as well as other compounds derived from pentose-phosphate pathway from readily available substrates such a hexoses using metabolically engineered microbial hosts.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 20, 2001
    Publication date: April 10, 2003
    Applicant: Xyrofin Oy
    Inventors: Andrei Miasnikov, Heikki Ojamo, Mira Povelainen, Hakan Gros, Mervi Toivari, Peter Richard, Laura Ruohonen, Kari Koivuranta, John Londesborough, Aristos Aristidou, Merja Penttila, Claire Plazanet-Menut, Josef Deutscher
  • Publication number: 20020164731
    Abstract: Effective processes are provided for the production of xylitol and ethanol and other products from solutions derived from lignocellulose-containing material in biomass. The solutions can be hydrolyzed or partially hydrolyzed before being fermented with microbes. The fermented solution can be distilled and can be subsequently separated, such as, by chromatographic separation, membrane separation, etc. The recovered xylitol solution can be crystallized to provide pure xylitol crystals.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 25, 2001
    Publication date: November 7, 2002
    Inventors: Olli-Pekka Eroma, Heikki Heikkila, Heikki Ojamo, Paivi Sarmala, Goran Hyoky, Leena Rahkila, Marja-Leena Sarkki, Tapio Viljava
  • Patent number: 5866382
    Abstract: This invention relates to recombinant-DNA-technology. Specifically, this invention relates to new recombinant yeast strains transformed with xylose reductase and/or xylitol dehydrogenase enzyme genes. A yeast strain transformed with the xylose reductase gene is capable of reducing xylose to xylitol and consequently of producing xylitol in vivo. If both of these genes are transformed into a yeast strain, the resultant strain is capable of producing ethanol on xylose containing medium during fermentation. Further, the said new yeast strains are capable of expressing the said two enzymes. Xylose reductase produced by these strains can be used in an enzymatic process for the production of xylitol in vitro.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 3, 1994
    Date of Patent: February 2, 1999
    Assignee: Xyrofin Oy
    Inventors: Johan Hallborn, Merja Penttila, Heikki Ojamo, Mats Walfridsson, Ulla Airaksinen, Sirkka Keranen, Barbel Hahn-Hagerdal